The final whistle still echoed faintly in Arthur's ears as the boys of Hayes trudged back into the academy's modest locker room. Mud streaked their legs, jerseys clung heavy with sweat, and the smell of damp grass hung in the air.
For Arthur, every step felt both weightless and crushing. His debut was done. He hadn't been brilliant, but he hadn't crumbled either. That should have been enough—yet the uncertain stares from his teammates reminded him of how fragile this moment was.
Jordan, the keeper, dropped heavily onto the bench, muttering, "We should've won that."
"Not with some of those sloppy passes," Cloris cut in sharply, throwing a look in Arthur's direction. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried, sliding under Arthur's skin like a blade.
Arthur stiffened.
Marcus, still grinning from his goal, immediately fired back. "Don't start, Cloris. He fed me the ball before I scored, or did you miss that part?"
Cloris scoffed. "One half-decent pass doesn't make up for almost losing possession five times."
The room shifted. A couple of the boys glanced uneasily between the two. Darren's brow furrowed, but he didn't speak.
Arthur opened his mouth, then shut it again. The words clawed at his throat, but his chest was too tight. I did mess up. But…
"Enough," Coach Darius's voice cut through the tension. His tone was even, calm—neither defending nor condemning. "Every player has flaws. What matters is how they respond."
He turned his gaze to Arthur. It wasn't harsh, but it wasn't warm either. Just steady. Neutral.
"You worked. You didn't hide. That's a start. Now we see if you can build from it."
Arthur lowered his head. He didn't know whether to feel relieved or stung. Neutrality meant opportunity—but it also meant no favoritism, no cushion. He would have to earn every ounce of respect.
The academy bus rattled on the way home, the boys half-asleep, half-chatting. Marcus plopped down beside Arthur, slapping him on the back.
"You did good," Marcus said, softer now. "Ignore Cloris. He's always looking for someone to blame when things aren't perfect."
Arthur gave a faint smile. "Still… my touches were sloppy. And I couldn't keep up defensively."
Marcus shrugged. "That's football. You'll get sharper with minutes. Just don't let the noise get in your head. You've got vision—better than half the midfielders here. That can't be taught."
Arthur blinked. The words warmed something in him.
But before he could answer, Marcus had already leaned back against the seat, humming quietly, his eyes closed.
That night, at the Hayes estate, Arthur slipped through the stone archway into the garden. The torches glowed softly along the path, illuminating the roses Lady Hayes tended with such care.
She was there, waiting with a shawl around her shoulders. Her face lit up when she saw him.
"My son," she said gently, "how did it go?"
Arthur hesitated, then smiled faintly. "We drew. I played… not badly. Not well, either."
His mother's hand brushed his cheek, tender, proud. "It was your first step. Your father will be glad to hear you stood your ground."
Arthur's chest tightened. In his inherited memories, the Hayes name had fallen hard, mocked for weakness. To restore it, he couldn't afford to stumble.
Yet here, in his mother's eyes, he saw no judgment. Just belief.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Later, in his room, Arthur opened the system interface.
[Match Rating: 6.3/10][Progress: Debut complete.][Next Quest: Deliver a decisive contribution in an official league match (Assist or Goal).]Reward: Unlock Dream Ground (Subconscious Training Dimension).]
Arthur's heart skipped. So it's true… one great moment could unlock it.
But he wasn't ready—not yet. His stats were too low, his stamina a glaring weakness. He needed to grind every day.
He lay back on the bed, eyes heavy. His body screamed with fatigue, but his mind was restless.
And somewhere, beyond the walls of the Hayes estate, a BMW i7 future, passed through the quiet streets of Valebridge.
Inside, a young noblewoman—Selene Valebridge, with dark hair like flowing ink and sharp, thoughtful eyes—rested her chin against her hand. Her thoughts were distant, but soon, fate would guide her path to cross with his.
Arthur didn't know it yet, but tonight marked not just the start of his footballing journey, but the beginning of something deeper—something that would test both heart and ambition.